Speech by U.S. senator and UNC law alumnus, honorary degrees to
highlight commencement

Sunday (May 19), 9:30 a.m., Kenan Stadium

Severe weather site, Dean E. Smith Center

U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, an alumnus, will give the
commencement address and receive an honorary degree Sunday (May 19) at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The ceremony will begin in Kenan
Stadium at 9:30 a.m. Chancellor James Moeser will preside.

Edwards’ bio: Edwards, who will receive an honorary doctor of laws
degree at the ceremony, was elected senator in November 1998 and took office in
January 1999. Since that time, he has been recognized nationwide for his
leadership – the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call put Edwards on "a list
of members who, in a very short period of time, have distinguished themselves on
Capitol Hill." Edwards grew up in Robbins. He graduated from N.C. State
University with a bachelor of science degree with honors in textiles. He earned
his law degree with honors from UNC in 1977.

Media parking: Limited spaces are available in the Student Health Service
parking lot off Gravely Drive (from Manning Drive) and behind Gate 6 of Kenan
Stadium. TV crews or others with heavy equipment will receive priority. Monitors
will ask for media identification. Parking is also available at News Services,
210 Pittsboro St., or in most south campus lots. Shuttle service also will be
available.

Media entry/seating/kits: Media representatives should enter the stadium
at the field-level gate through Gate 6 and proceed to Section 120. Media kits
will be available from News Services staff stationed at Section 120.

Broadcasters, videographers and photographers: Access at the field and
surrounding track level will be limited to a designated area on the field: a
fenced area, with seating, near Section 120. A multbox to supply audio feeds
will be located at this area. Broadcasters are asked to bring their own drop
cords. University representatives will be on hand to guide media to this area,
provide escorts for cut-away shots facing the platform in the center aisle where
some graduates and faculty sit, and answer questions. Media
representatives will not be permitted in student or guest seating areas.Call
Karen Moon at (919) 962-8595 with specific questions about television and Dan
Sears at (919) 962-8592 with specific photography-related questions.

Graduates: May commencement is held for students completing degree work
this spring. As of May 9, the University Registrar at Carolina had identified
5,045 May degree candidates: 2,837 bachelor’s, 1,284 master’s, 348 doctoral,
565 professional and 11 certificates. Those numbers are expected to drop as
officials verify who has met academic requirements after exams. News Services
will provide updates as they are available but an exact number of May graduates
will not be available Sunday.

Honorary degrees: This year’s honorary degree recipients are:

·

Edwards, who will receive a doctor of laws degree.

·

Dr. Verne E. Chaney Jr., founder and president of the Thomas A.
Dooley Foundation-INTERMED USA and INTERMED, Geneva, Switzerland, who will
receive a doctor of science degree.

·

Julian H. Robertson Jr., founder of Tiger Management Corp., New
York investment manager and philanthropist, who will receive a doctor of
laws degree.

Other ceremonies: Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General, will
give the keynote address for the School of Medicine ceremony, scheduled for 1
p.m. Sunday (May 19) at the Dean E. Smith Center. Robert J. Greczyn Jr.,
president and chief executive officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North
Carolina, will give the keynote address for the School of Public Health
ceremony, scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday at the Dean E. Smith Center. Greczyn
received his master of public health degree from UNC. Dr. Greg Chadwick,
president of the American Dental Association, will give the keynote address for
the School of Dentistry ceremony, scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday at Carmichael
Auditorium. Chadwick is a three-time UNC graduate. For more information on other
UNC school and department ceremonies, visit http://www.unc.edu/commencement/schedule2002.html.

Severe weather: Heavy rain with high winds or lightning could move the
commencement ceremony to the Dean E. Smith Center. That decision would be made
by 6:30 a.m. the day of the event. News Services will notify radio and TV
stations as soon after that as possible on Sunday morning. Please page News
Services, 216-2584, for information on Smith Center media kit distribution,
seating and parking concerns that day, in the event of severe weather.